Thoughts on everyday life and inspiring others to contribute to life in a positive way.

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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Life On A Tightrope

I have no
interest in balancing on a tightrope.The thought of heights gives me the willies.There is this feeling I get in the pit of my
stomach as I look out over a ledge, a cliff, and even the balcony overlooking
our family room.I never used to feel
this way.I could climb bluffs, trees,
and hike fearlessly.Somewhere along the
line, I lost that ability.

I went to very
few circuses in my life, but when I did, I was always amazed at the trapeze
artists who operated with and sometimes without a net.They’d walk blindfolded, ride a bike, and
sometimes walk backward.They’d hop or
jump, seemingly without fear or concern.One brave soul would hang upside-down on a swing and catch their
teammate or hurl them from one tiny platform to the other.When I watch gymnasts perform on the balance
beam, I’m amazed at the flips, turns, and stunts they’re able to do.And again, they seem to perform fearlessly
and courageously, until they dismount and breathe a sigh of relief.

I think at one
time or another, each of us walks on a tightrope.Sometimes with a net, and sometimes
without.Sometimes we’re way up in the
air, while at other times, closer to the ground.But we walk on a tightrope nonetheless.That tightrope could be our hopes and fears
for our children as they struggle making friends, studying their way through
college, securing a good job and managing their debt.Sometimes that tightrope is our financial
situation.Sometimes that tightrope is
our relationship to our spouse, our significant other.Sometimes ourselves. That tightrope might be
our job and position and the daily decisions we make.We decide to do what is right, fair and just
or decide what is politically correct and safe, regardless of whether or not it
is right or wrong, good or bad, morally just or not.

I believe those
of us with titles are more often on the tightrope than not.Depending upon the situation and
circumstance, there is a net . . . or not. There might be those who are supportive, and
sometimes those who wait, and perhaps want us to fall.

In The Power
of Progress, Teresa Amabile writes, “When people see that leaders can’t or
won’t support their work, they view themselves like tightrope walkers working
without a net.When leadership or other
groups actively hinder their work, they feel like someone is shaking that
tightrope.” Scary thought isn’t it?Scary or not, I see the truth in that statement.

If we realize that
each of us is at one time or another on a tightrope, we can support each
other, cheer each other on, and help catch one another when we fall.I think that might be a better way to
live.Support, encouragement, friendship
are sometimes in short supply.They don’t
have to be.Really!We can choose to supply them to each other .
. . and to ourselves.Really!Something to think about . . .